1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Your Guide

This stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue was established in 1804 when President Jefferson ordered a grand avenue to be cut through President’s Park. It remained a city thoroughfare for almost two centuries. In most recent history, motorists could catch a drive-by glimpse of the White House. Security concerns forced the avenue to be temporarily closed to vehicles in 1995. In 2004, it was transformed into an inviting and flexible public space for pedestrians, as well as formal and informal events unique to the nation’s capital.

Pennsylvania Avenue, 2001

In the wake of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the September 2011 terrorist attacks, ad-hoc security barriers restricted vehicular access and impeded pedestrian mobility, while marring the beautiful, dignified setting of President’s Park. In 2002, after much debate and compromise, an initiative was undertaken to improve security and the avenue.

Image: National Capital Planning Commission

Pennsylvania Avenue Today

The avenue’s landscape and secured perimeter and checkpoints are designed to protect the White House grounds and create an attractive, welcoming, and flexible public space. Respecting the historic right-of-way and using familiar forms and materials to honor the place's importance, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates designed the space to mediate between the intersections that bracket the north-south axis with elements that strengthen linkages between the naturalism of Lafayette Park and the informality of the White House grounds.

Image: Elizabeth Miller

Pennsylvania Avenue Today

The quintessential American elm tree (the disease resistant Princeton variety) was chosen to line the avenue. To respect the space's formality, care was taken to choose trees of the same size and to perfectly align them to form a dense, symmetrical, upright canopy that will establish a stately promenade flanking the White House. Stone benches were placed perpendicular to the walk within the bosque of trees to provide comfortable shaded seating areas.

Image: Elizabeth Miller

The White House

The location of the White House was influenced by the contour of the land and rivers. It sits on a low hill parallel with the north-south fork of two converging rivers and diagonally to the house of Congress, which was given the highest point. President Washington laid the cornerstone in 1792. First occupied in 1800, the house was set on fire by the British during the War of 1812. Over the years, it has been renovated to keep it structurally sound and wings were added to meet space needs.

Image: Elizabeth Miller

White House Gate Posts

The rusticated Tuscan gateposts along the front of the White House evoke strength and stability, and the torch lights announce the dignity and importance of the entrance to the White House Grounds. Perhaps the First Lady is waiting for the President’s arrival home.

Image: Elizabeth Miller

Practicing for the Inaugural Parade

The Inaugural Parade tradition informally began in 1789 as George Washington journeyed from Mount Vernon to New York City to take the oath of office; locals joined the procession as he passed through town. Formalized in 1809, subsequent parades have grown more elaborate with military escorts, marching bands, and floats. The security and streetscape elements were placed and designed to accommodate these special events.

Image: Elizabeth Miller

Parades, Protocol, and Protest

Major Pierre L'Enfant's 1791 city plan envisioned Pennsylvania Avenue as a ceremonial route between the White House and Capitol. In addition to Inaugural Parades, the avenue has hosted victory celebrations signaling the close of major wars; military and civil heroes being acclaimed; and receptions for foreign heads of state. Citizens often choose the avenue as the location to demonstrate, exercising their freedom of speech.

Image: Elizabeth Miller

Funeral Processions

The avenue is often the route of Presidential funeral processions where citizens come together to express their sorrow. On a cold January morning in 2007, crowds stood at attention and somberly watched as President Ford’s hearse passed the White House en route to Andrew’s Air Force Base from where he was flown home to Grand Rapids, Michigan for burial.

Image: Elizabeth Miller

A Day on the Avenue

Perhaps not quite how President Jefferson could have envisioned it, this stretch of the avenue is now like an expansive public plaza. On any given day it's common to find groups, large and small, demonstrating, visiting, resting their feet, strolling, bicycling, touring on segways, and even lingering to watch a serious game of street hockey.